Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-07
TIE POLYNEsSIAN STATUE.
The stone Image in the National MA.
Seum-What Is known Of Easter
Island.

The big stone idol or monolithic statue brought
from Polynesia and at last safely deposited in the
National Museum, Is OF especial interest to
archRolOgists q stray line or two, or perhaps
the heading Of chapter, in the story of the peO-
PIE that have Inhabited Rapa-Nui, or Easter
Island. The huge stone images set up at different
places on the island have given rise to much con-
lecture, one romantic suggestion being that the
island, which is about 81 miles In circumference
Is what remains above water OF a submerged con-
tinent. This little isian1 has history that
s retches far back into the remote past and
everywhere on its lava-coverd surface are the
traces OF much more active race than that which
now ekes out miserable existence within its mar
row limits.
NOT AN IDOL
Lieut.. Bodies, of the National Museum, speaking
20 a STAR reporter OF the images ON Easter Island
said that there was little doubt that they were
statues, erected 10 commemorate kings or chiefs
and not idols. Archaeological researches on the
island had proved very unsatisfactory, because
the old and the new were found so mixed up to-
gether. In the cayernS old flint Instruments
would be found in The same deposit with mod
ern iron ox-shoe or some other article Of recent
make II was dificult to MAKE out whether the
carved or painted figures had any meaning or not,
or whether they were made by the ancestors OF
the present Inhabitants The islanders went long
distances from island TO island. the strong driving
out the weak and In turn being displaced by still
stronger tribes. The present race may have
and painting on the rocks have simply copied
what they saw continually before them
THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS
On the surface OF the island are Of great interest
No less than twenty-five generations OF kings
regned over the island their names being all held
In memory In the traditions Of the island, and
given 10 various points OF the many headlands
The last king, Tepito y Gregorio, is said to have
been carried OF by the Peruv1ans and killed IN
his place they elected the present chief who
after the people had assembled In the great crate
or Kanokai won the swimming race across TO thu
island OF MOtu-kaokaO and brought back first 8
birds egg from the top OF its extremely precipi
tous eufs- The natives claim that at one time
there were no less than twenty-ny thousand peo
pie on the island. though, considering It's present
size and the large portion OF IL covered with tgne
Gus rocks. the statement Is probably an exaggera
ton.
TIE STONE IMAGES.
The attraction of the island Is its stone images
These figures are from 3 10 IA feet in height anf
are now standing, though many OF them lie cIoss
10 the platforms on which they must have stood
As rule but Little attempt has been made at shap
Ing the bodies Of the images the huge heads aI,f
shoulders alone being formed and showing SONS
considerable skill The dsures were generally sci
up with the lace turned toward the sea, the plat
forms being usually erected against the hill side
The stone useai Is trachyte, the eyes often beins
1nlaid, and the heads often covered with q cap OF
1erent colored stones In something approaching /
symmetrical pattern With the exception OF thes.
crowls the figures are OF one solid block tn.
cruwns being simply placed on the TOD wtthOu
mortar or cement of any kind
TIE FACES OF THE STATUES
are well formed, the noses large and regular. tn,
eyebrows raised and very marked The earn e.
peciAlly the lobes are or huge size, In accordance
with the custom OF the Polynesians 70 disten,
them by the insertion OF blocks OF round wood O
ivory. They have no mustache but occasiopall
a chin beard, and often have the hair thick an
heavy over the forehead and passing behind tn
ears. The general contour Of the face Is round
The arms. when formed, are not distinct from til
body, but simply raised above the rest OF the SUI
Lace. The heavy hair over the forehead may onl
have been introduced 70 AFFORD q larger surfac
for the support OF the crown. Although II 1
known TO be custom among South Sea islander
10 Stu the lower lip an distend IL In a similar wa
10 the lobes Of the ears STILL that the elevation
on the chlns Of these idols are meant for beard
there can be no doubt, as they are furrOwed
represent hair and do not simply project out d
rectly below the lower lip, but follow the curve
the chin. In 1883 two or these n yures stu StoO
On the platforms and were distinctly visible som
distance out a. sea, while In 1s6S there IS said
have been as many as thirty still standing. II
Irss mention ever made OF Rapa-nui Is In q
memoirs Of the Dutch Admiral koggewein, VII
landed on April q, IT,, and that day being EaSf<
Sunday, he named the island Easter Island. TheI
are one or Two churches on the island and
school In which spanish Is taught. The natiy
language u Q Poly dialect resembling Cd
T&hlrtan, and having many words In cOmmO
With the Inhabitants OF that French colony. tn
climate h moist and variable